Traders in a Northumberland village are taking action against shop thieves

Almost all 30 retailers in Rothbury are now linked by radio through a scheme introduced by Alnwick District Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership which involves the police and the district council.

All the traders involved took part in a training course to learn how to use the radios and PC Dave Smallwood, beat manager for Rothbury, said: "The scheme is intended to give reassurance to retailers who may work alone and find it difficult to reach a phone in times of emergency."

Plans are also well advanced to introduce the same scheme in Amble, Seahouses and Wooler.